It's been 6 weeks since my surgery and I had my first PSA results this week!

Needless to say I was a nervous wreck waiting a week since the actual blood test to find out the results!

But..test showed PSA level "non-detectable"...Whew! Next test in three months.

Pathology showed cancer very near margins but fully contained.

Got my first prescription for Cialis 10mg every other day.

Incontinence is still strong! going thru 3 to 4 pads a day. I'm ok sitting and lying down, But initial rise to standing leaks like a faucet! if I'm home I can make it to the bathroom but away from home..fill the pad!

Walking two miles a day, some perineal pain from prolong standing.

Oh ya, played my first round of golf Saturday. It was a scramble tournament so less ball chasing...no driver just fairway woods and irons. No tees just off the deck (hated leaking everytime i bent over. Also bought a suction cup retriever for my putter to pick up the ball, same reason.)

But all in all! alot better than week one!

Sorry for the rambling....

Dave M.

Age: 52

Male, Hispanic

11/10/2006

PSA 10.2 - Discovered during Annual Physical with Family Doctor

Referred to Urologist Surgeon specialist

Free and total PSA - 10.9

Biopsy ( sent to John Hopkins pathology) - 2 of 16 positive on left and right apex of prostate

Please don’t ever apologize for rambling…. That’s why this forum is so great!Rambling = Sharingso keep on rambling. Your journey will be viewed by “Newbies” and it’s important to give as much information as possible.

Sounds like you had a nice scramble and getting the suction cup retriever so you don’t have to bend… was a smart idea.It still blows us away to hear members say they are back on the golf course only 6 weeks out from surgery.I guess you could say we are definitely “very conservative” when it comes to the healing process.

You are in our thoughts and prayers as you continue to move forward.

Take care and “keep it in the short grass” In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy

RRP / Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy with "wide excision"

PSA 4.6 Gleason 3+3=6 T2a Confined to Prostate

2nd PSA 02-06-2007 Less than 0.1 Non-Detectable :)

Dave: Great news The incontinence will get better. Keep doing the Kegels and exercise. I played 18 holes of golf at end of week five and down to 1-2 pads a day. Besides the surgeon, I believe my recovery is due to regular exercise (1-2 hours a day) and doing Kegels. It is just part of my daily routine. EdAge: 63

I've noticed that follow-up PSA results seem to come back in several different forms...... 0.00, <0.1, undetectable, or an absolute number such as 0.03. In my case it was <0.1, doc said this is essentially 0 and this is the format that all his favorable PSAs' come back as.

Do different labs format their results differently, or provide different resolutions? For example, in my case the reading of <0.1 could theoretically be anywhere from 0.0 to 0.09, depending on the resolution available on the test.

Bill; My doctor told me that all labs are different. Therefore it is important to get all your PSA tests from the same Lab. Under .1 seems to be the gold standard and different labs will report .1 differently. I asked my lab how to interpret my .02 that they told me. Ed